British publisher SCi Entertianment has reached a licensing agreement with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to develop a game based on the classic movie The Great Escape. The game will be developed for several next-generation consoles and will be released in 2002. In particular, SCi Entertainment revealed that a PlayStation 2 version of the game will be developed.

　　The squad-based action-adventure game will be separated into three parts and will closely follow the movie's storyline, as players attempt to escape from a POW camp in WWI Germany. The initial part of the game will involve stealth and strategy, as players organize their escape squad and gather equipment. Everything from wire cutters and digging tools to identity cards must be accumulated before an escape can be attempted. In the second portion of the game, players will be asked to devise the most effective escape plan, and the final phase involves the actual escape. In this final phase, players can select from several scenarios, such as walking north by night toward Sweden or stealing motorcycles and heading south through Austria.

　　"We are delighted to have acquired the rights to The Great Escape. This is a classic movie and a tremendous brand with a strong storyline that will allow us to develop an exciting series of games. They will be instantly recognizable at retail outlets throughout the US and in the major European territories," said Jane Cavanagh, chief executive of SCi Entertainment. "We are very excited about this opportunity and look forward to beginning to develop an outstanding series of interactive games for a variety of platforms."

　　The Great Escape movie starred such well-known actors as James Garner, Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, and others.